New Study Suggests School Phone Bans May Not Be as Effective as Expected

School phone bans are a controversial topic. While some parents, like myself, believe phones should be available for safety reasons, many educators support a complete ban to encourage classroom focus and engagement. However, one thing is clear: many young people’s mental health is suffering due to excessive phone use, particularly social media, which has been linked to increased anxiety and depression among teens.

A recent study, however, suggests that banning phones in schools may not have the positive effects we might expect.

Study Finds No Link Between Phone Bans and Improved Well-being

Published in The Lancet, the study was conducted in the United Kingdom and analyzed 1,227 students, aged 12-15, from 30 schools. The research compared schools that allowed phone use with those that enforced a ban.

Surprisingly, the results showed that mental well-being and school performance didn’t improve in schools where phones were banned. Students’ health and behavior were nearly identical, regardless of whether phones were permitted or not. There was no evidence of better exercise habits, sleep patterns, or classroom behavior among students who attended schools with phone restrictions. The study also found no noticeable change in how much time students spent on their devices. The link between excessive phone use and poorer mental health was the only significant finding.

Victoria Goodyear, PhD, the study’s author, told the BBC that the research doesn’t advocate for allowing phones in schools, but instead suggests that simply banning them won’t be enough to address the negative effects they can have.

What This Means for Kids and Phone Usage

The study points to the complexities of managing phone use among adolescents. Stacy Thiry, a licensed mental health counselor, explains that while phone bans may have good intentions, they could inadvertently encourage kids to spend even more time on their phones outside school hours. This could negate any potential benefits of the bans, which may explain why students in banned-phone schools didn’t show reduced screen time.

Jack Winston, CEO of BePresent, a digital wellness company, agrees, emphasizing that we’re just starting to understand how to foster healthy digital habits in kids. He suggests that phone bans are just part of the equation. “Kids will get their devices back at the end of the day, so if phone bans aren’t paired with efforts to promote digital wellness, the impact is minimal.”

Thiry stresses the importance of a balanced approach to technology, both in schools and at home. Parents and school administrators need to work together to help kids build healthy phone habits.

The Importance of Teaching Healthy Offline Relationships

Kristen Miller, Director of Education for Celebree School, adds that phone bans are unlikely to be effective unless combined with efforts to teach kids about healthy offline interactions. “Teaching kids empathy, encouraging face-to-face interactions, and fostering strong social skills can help reduce the overuse of screens and social media,” she says.

Guiding Kids Toward Healthy Phone Use

Experts suggest several strategies to help kids develop better digital habits outside of school:

1. Be open about online use: Have regular discussions about screen time, social media, and the impact of digital comparisons. Winston advises parents to help teens understand the persuasive nature of social media.
2. Know the apps they use: Understanding the platforms kids engage with helps guide them toward positive online interactions, Thiry says.
3. Set boundaries: Establish clear rules about what apps are acceptable and when phone use is appropriate. This can help families bond while promoting digital wellness.
4. Model good habits: Kids learn by example, so it’s important for parents to model healthy phone habits as well.
5. Encourage offline activities: Engage kids in sports, hobbies, and other activities that don’t involve screens. This can help reduce their screen time.
6. Use parental controls: Many devices have settings to monitor and limit screen time, ensuring kids’ digital habits align with family values, according to Thiry.
7. Monitor emotional wellness: If kids appear irritable or upset after using their phones, it’s time to assess their online behavior and time spent on apps.

Finally, Miller highlights that fostering offline relationships is key to kids’ overall well-being. Whether it’s teaching empathy, helping children develop confidence in social settings, or encouraging face-to-face friendships, it’s crucial to focus on real-life connections while navigating the digital world.